Photo of the Day and Girl #2 Revisited

Yesterday was a spectacular day - breezy, high of about 74 degrees F., sunny, and low humidity - and today promises to be about the same. The overnight low was in the 40s; it is 48 degrees right now. I am a yooper (from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and this is what I remember as summer. Unfortunately, where I live these days are few and far between. Usually we are in the 80s or above and the humidity is high enough to be quite uncomfortable.

Today's photo is of one of the thistle plants in the front  perennial garden. This is one of my favorites; it is quite an interesting looking plant. I don't often see this plant featured when gardeners are showing off their blooms.

I am so glad that Sharon Tomlinson tells it like it is. She could have looked at my namby-pamby girl #2 with the big hair and very little color and said she was fine, but instead she told me to get nervous Nellie to go away and to get rid of that 80s hair and be bold and brave with the color and boy am I ever glad she did.

First I gessoed everything except the face and a tiny bit of "hair" around it and let it dry. Then I began to add color. I am so pleased with how she turned out! I can't believe I was willing to leave her the way she was and go on to the next one.

Here is the before:

And here she is after her makeover:

I am so loving her! This is what I hoped to accomplish when I signed up for this class. Today I am hoping to give my girl #1 a makeover. I won't have to change as much; but I definitely need to add some color to that pale girl. I'll share tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'd best have another cup of coffee, walk the yard with my camera, and then get on the treadmill. It is the perfect day for it.

I'm so glad you came to visit and hope you have time to leave a comment to let me know what you think of this post.

xoxo